News From Around the Web
> The federal government is poised to recover record-breaking dollar amounts this year from false claims lawsuits filed by whistlblowers, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. Article
> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services extended new provider enrollment moritoriums for ground ambulance services and home healthcare in fraud-prone areas nationwide. Announcement
> The Office of Inspector General cited the Indiana Attorney General's Office for not advising the federal government of prosecuted Medicaid fraud cases on time, the Lafayette Journal & Courier reported. Article
Health Payer News
> As the health insurance and pharma industries clash over the cost of hepatitis C drugs, a new report finds the high-priced meds will drive up Medicare Part D spending by about $2.9 billion to $5.8 billion next year. Article
> A major hurdle to insurers implementing payment reform models like pay-for-performance is getting providers to change their behaviors and how they've practiced medicine their whole careers. Article
> The new health law provision that will automatically enroll individuals in a plan unless they opt out is proving to be controversial. Many businesses say the "default option" could cause confusion among employees who suddenly find themselves in a plan they didn't sign up for and might not want. Article
> With the 2015 health insurance exchange enrollment period comes a new round of potential problems that insurers should address before enrollment begins. To help prevent--or at least offset--members' price concerns and keep them from jumping ship, the authors shared several tips insurers can take before enrollment begins. Article
Healthcare Provider News
> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Monday issued a final rule updating Medicare payment policies and rates for general acute care and long-term care hospitals for fiscal year 2015. The rule changes payments for value-based purchasing, readmission reductions, hospital-acquired conditions and disproportionate share hospitals. Article
And finally… I don't drink, I don't smoke and I don't lie ... and two of those statements are lies. Article